Dana White's Son and Nephew Trade the Octagon for Manga With 'Martial War'

The White family business usually involves cages, not comic panels. But at New York Comic Con, Dana White's son Aidan White and nephew Will Carter stepped out from behind the promotion's shadow to introduce their first manga, Martial War, published by Dark Horse. The pair sat down to preview the project, which has been building anticipation since its reveal.

The headline name attached to the book isn't a fighter — it's Hiroyuki Takei, the artist behind Shaman King and one of the most recognizable creators in the medium. Takei is joined on art by Jet Kusamura, with lettering from Steve Dutro, who's been nominated for an Eisner Award, the industry's highest honor. That's a serious creative stable for a debut.

For a family whose surname is practically synonymous with mixed martial arts, pivoting to Japanese comics is an unexpected swerve. The UFC has spent years leaning into combat as spectacle; Martial War lets the next generation tell a fight story on their own terms, on the page instead of in the broadcast booth.

A Familiar Weekend for the Family Name

The launch landed the same weekend the UFC ran Vegas 122, where middleweight Brendan Allen choked out Christian Leroy Duncan in the fifth round of the main event. That win pushed Allen's record to 28-7 and marked his fourth straight victory, with 15 of his 28 wins coming by submission — including this one. The No. 4-ranked contender promptly called out champion Dricus du Plessis.

Elsewhere on the card, veteran Andre Fili knocked out Kai Kamaka III in the second round to improve to 26-14, and spoke afterward about pulling a follow-up punch once he saw his opponent was done. Jon Jones, meanwhile, made news of a different kind, saying the biggest regret of his 28-1 career is missing out on the planned UFC White House event.

So while the fighters did their talking in the cage, the White family found another venue entirely. Whether Martial War becomes a long-running series or a one-off curiosity, it's a reminder that the brand's younger members are carving out their own lane — and this one comes with ink, not gloves.